2025 Kerala local body polls: Political fronts wait with bated breath as counting of votes set to begin

Major political fronts, parties and voters in Kerala are waiting with bated breath for the results of the 2025 local body elections in the state as the counting of votes, which was conducted in two phases earlier this week, will begin at 8 am today (December 13).

The first trends are expected to start coming from 8.30 am. According to the State Election Commission (SEC), all results are expected to be announced by Saturday afternoon. Updates can be accessed on the ‘Trend’ website maintained by the SEC:

https://trend.sec.kerala.gov.in, https://lbtrend.kerala.gov.in, https://trend.kerala.nic.in.

At the time of filing this report, the safe rooms where electronic voting machines (EVMs) are kept are open.

The SEC has set up 244 counting centers across the state. Postal votes in district panchayats will be counted at the District Collectors. The SEC said the counting will begin after ensuring that the seals and labels on the control units of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are intact in the presence of the candidates or counting/election representatives.

In the previous elections held in 2020, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) had a clear upper hand in the three-tier panchayats. It also won 44 of the 87 municipalities (including Mattannur in Kannur, where elections are being held in 2022), five of the six corporators, more than 500 of the grama panchayats, 11 of the 14 district panchayats and more than 100 of the 152 block panchayats.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are hoping to increase the number of heirs this time. The fact that the local body elections take place just a few months before the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections increases their political importance.

The 2025 local body elections were held in Kerala in two phases on December 9 and 11. Total voter turnout in the two phases stood at 73.69% with 2,10,79,609 crore out of total 2,86,07,658 voters exercising their right to vote in 14 districts of Kerala.

The 2025 elections were held in 23,573 wards in 1,199 local bodies, including three-tier panchayats, municipalities and corporations. The SEC postponed the elections in three districts where candidates died during the campaign. The 1,199 local bodies comprise 941 grama panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 86 municipalities (Mattannur municipality will see elections in 2027) and six Corporations.